Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read that having faith brings a mighty change in our hearts, just like it did for Alma when he heard Abinidi preach. Alma 5:11-13 "Behold, I can tell you—did not my father Alma believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi? And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God, and my father Alma believe them? And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true. And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved."

In the Old Testament we read some laws the Lord gave the people to help them live lives of integrity and godly conduct--things such as not lying or being an unrighteous witness, and not following the crowd when they do evil. If they see their enemy's animal go astray, they should return it to its owner and help him when they have the opportunity to do so. Exod Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet admonish us to put off the former lives that we lived when we accept Christ. We should not be like other people who don't know of Christ and whose understanding is darkened and have blindness in their hearts. They are past feeling because they have given themselves over to greediness and works of uncleanliness. Instead, we need to put on the new man of righteousness and holiness, being renewed in the spirit of our minds. Ephesians 4:17-24 "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."



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